Leptopelis cf. aubryioides (Andersson, 1907)

Figure 4H

Material. ANGOLA – Cabinda Province • Mayombe NP, Sanga Wanda; –4.6253, 12.4583; 221 m a.s.l.; P3.514; GenBank: PQ455850 .

Identification. This is the smallest Leptopelis from Cabinda Province (SVL = 35−45 mm). It is slenderer than L. aubryi, lacks orange colouration on the eyes and has white spurs on the heels. The specimen reported from Cabinda Province differs by 2.2% (16S p -distance) from material collected at Lekoumou, Republic of the Congo (GenBank: KY080248), and by 4% from material collected at Mount Kupe, Cameroon (GenBank: KX671754). The large genetic distance may suggest cryptic diversification in the group; however, further analyses are needed to take taxonomic action. Consequently, we list the material from Cabinda Province as Leptopelis cf. aubryioides, pending further investigation.

Biology and distribution. An arboreal Leptopelis widely distributed in dense forests across the Gulf of Guinea (Channing and Rödel 2019). This material represents the first record for Cabinda Province, and for Angola (Baptista 2024). This specimen was found in a primary rainforest on a leaf about 4 m above ground in Lower Mayombe, and in sympatry with L. aubryi, L. boulengeri, L. cf. calcaratus and L. ocellatus .